Presentation

Protocols for Sagebrush Seed Processing and Seedling Production
at the
Lucky Peak Nursery
Clark D. Fleege, Nursery Manager
USDA Forest Service
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Presentation
Seed Processing
Production of 1-0 BR Seedlings
Production of CTR Seedlings
Seed Storage
Collection NOT Presented (Client Process)
Why We are Processing Sagebrush Seed and Producing Seedlings:
1. Public lands experiencing uncharacteristically severe wildfires
(2007 Murphy Fire in southern ID burned 600M ac)
2. “Nature abhors a vacuum”
(accelerating re-establishment of desirable, native vegetation)
Basin big sagebrush
Wyoming big sagebrush
Mountain big sagebrush
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Initial Seed Processing: Drying
Early winter collection (Nov, Dec)
Contains leaves, twigs, stems, seed, snow
Dry on screen trays
Aeration to prevent molding
Can take several days
Appears to be no problem with “too dry”
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Initial Seed Processing: Manual Extraction
Dry material is processed over Hance Model 36 Scalper
Two screens (Top > seed size; Bottom < seed size)
Hand-rubbing separates seed from stems
M2B Clipper could be substituted for Scalper
Initial Seed Processing: Manual Extraction
• Process to 12-20% purity
• Suitable for aerial seeding
• Daily production = 100 gal (2 barrels) material
• “Not good enough:” inefficient, inconsistent results, untimely; difficult
to meet clients’ time-critical deadlines (e.g. direct seeding, payment to
collectors)
Initial Seed Processing: Mechanical Extraction
1. Literature Search
• Debearder (N/A at LPN)
• Hammermill (N/A at LPN)
2. Equipment Available at LPN
• Wintersteiger Small Plot Combine
• Field Harvest of Native Grasses/Forb Seed
Initial Seed Processing: Mechanical
Extraction
• Combine functions as “Portable
Seed Plant” (hammermill, scalper)
• Machine does work, we monitor
performance
Initial Seed Processing: Mechanical Extraction
Process to 12-20% purity
• Suitable for aerial seeding
• Daily Production = 900 gal material (18 barrels material)
• “Predictable results:” efficient, consistent, timely; able to meet
clients’ time-critical project deadlines (e.g. December aerial
seeding)
FY 2009 Big Sagebrush Initial Extraction
Results
TZ
Work
Days
Daily
Prod.
(lbs
raw)
12
93
1
65
12
93
5
410
Process
Raw Wt
(lbs)
Process
Wt (lbs)
Purity
Manual
65 (est.)
58 (est.)
Mechanical
2054
1830
Total
2119
1888
6
Final Seed Processing: Mech. Separation
• MTDC dry conifer dewinger separates seed from bloom
• Rubber flaps gently rub material
• Vacuum attached (to remove fine material)
Final Seed Processing: Air
Separation
• Westrup Air Separator
separates filled seed from
empty seed and fine trash
• Final product is virtually pure
seed (suitable for seedling
production)
Calendar of Seed Ripening/Processing Results
Flower
Date
Ripening
Date
Pre-Ripe
Color
Ripe
Color
Lbs
Seed/100
Lbs
Material
July
Nov
Light
Brown
Black
4
Seeds/Lb
BR Plants /
1 Lb Seed
CTR
Plants /
1 Lb
Seed
2,000,000
100,000
100,000
Sagebrush Timetable (One-Year Old Seedlings)
Seed
Collection
Aerial
Seeding
BR
Seeding
CTR
Seeding
Seedling
Packing
Field Planting
Nov 2011
Dec 2011
May 2012
May 2012
Nov 2012
Nov 2012
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Seed Preparation
1. Prepare seed relative to desired seedling production
• Use pure seed
• Seed tests prior to sowing (germination, seeds/lb, purity)
• Late-May spring sowing (no stratification necessary)
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Seed Preparation
2. Prepare seed relative to Oyjord Seed Drill
• Divide total footage by selected pan revolution
• Divide total seed volume by same quotient
Seedlot
Calc.
Total Ft
Total Seed
Wt (gr)
Oyjord
Setting
Oyjord Pan
Distance (ft)
Units
Seed
Wt/Unit (gr)
BS4608MDMB
3300
500
3-26
330
10
50
BS4106CFWY
400
48
3-20
200
2
24
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Seed Preparation
3. Prepare seed relative to Oyjord seed drill
• Mix seed w/ ground alfalfa meal 1:1 (> weight, < static electricity)
• Add pinch of orange dust ( > visibility)
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Mechanical Seeding
• Fields are roto-tilled prior to seeding
• Oyjord Seed Drill (standard bareroot conifer seeder)
• 8 drill rows/48” wide seedbed
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Mechanical Seeding
• Revolving pan distributes seed
• Talc powder to reduce static
• Red seed mix drops in furrows
• Seeding density: 160-180 seeds/square foot
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Mechanical Seeding
• Apply sand mulch immediately following seeding
• Sand mulch depth ¼”
BR Sagebrush Seedling Production:
• Ample irrigation
• Germination w/in 7 days
BR 1-0 Sagebrush Seedling Production (M Seedlings)
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
1500
1000
2000
1200
Minimum Specifications BR 1-0 Seedling:
• 8” shoot length
• 8” root length
• 3 mm caliper
BR Sagebrush Seedling
Production: Storage
• Fall Harvest (early Nov)
• Irrigate fields < harvest
• Keep foliage dry (molding
issue)
• No added moisture in box
• Waxed boxes, no bag
• Freezer store at 25-28F
• Quick freeze; quick thaw
CTR Sagebrush Seedling Production
• Grown in a retractable-roof Cravo greenhouse (well-ventilated)
• Peat/vermiculite media (75/25)
• Pure seed w/ no filler (seeds/cell function of germ)
• Seeding in mid-May
• Mechanically seed w/ Precision Needle Seeder
• Fabric mulch (>moisture retention, moderates soil temperatures 5F);
remains in place until germination @ 90%
CTR Sagebrush Seedling Production
• Typically 6.3 cu in container
• Will easily get “leggy;” will easily mold
• Fertilize w/ 4-25-35 (low N); 40 ppm N
• Minimum caliper 2mm
• FY2011 production: 130M
CTR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Storage
• 10 plugs/”baggie”
• 350 seedlings/box
• Seedlings oriented vertically (prevents molding of foliage)
• Non-waxed box w/ bag
• Freezer storage (25-28F)
• Usually pack-out in mid-Nov
CTR Sagebrush Seedling Production: Misc.
Low-Tech Sagebrush Seeder:
Salt Shaker used to “fill-in”
Control Bird Predation:
“Trap and Release” Method
Sagebrush Seed Storage:
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Pure Seed stored in 4 mil bags
Moisture Content < 10%
Seed Freezer temp 10F
Long-term viability appears
possible (Seedlot BS61990005):
• 1999 Germ. = 60%
• 2009 Germ. = 59%
Research by RMRS (Nancy
Shaw)
Field Performance of 11 Yr-Old BS Seed (2 Rightmost Seedbeds)
Germination:
Seeding Density:
Seedling Density:
59%
123 seeds per LF
11 seedlings per LF
Questions?